Ice-breaker.



T. L. PHAT! & R. BIAGINI. ICE BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,1918.-

1,299fl23 Patented Apr, 1,1919.

THOMAS L. PRA'II AND RAY IBIAGINI, OF CHARIIEROI, PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE-BREAKER.

Application filed May 8, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .we, THoMAs L. PRATI and RAY BIAGINI, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Oharleroi, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Breakers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as iWill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The objects of our invention is to provide a suitable and efficient device for breaking up ice in rivers and navigable streams, which will be simple in construction and inexpensive'to manufacture. Our invention relates to ice breakers, and consists in certain novel features and details of construction as will be more fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claim.

We will now describe our invention reference being had to the accompanying dralwings, in [Which Figure 1, is a plan view showing the invention attached to the forward part of a boat. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts being removed from the frame, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line w-w of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. A, represents the bow or forward end of a boat to which is secured the frame B, of our improved ice breaker. This frame is provided with bearings, C, D, and E, into which are journaled a main driving shaft F, an intermediate shaft G, and an auxiliary shaft H. Secured on the main driving shaft F, is a sprocket-Wheel I, and secured on the intermediate shaft Gr, between the frame beams are sprocket-wheels J, and K, and secured on the auxiliary shaft H, between the frame beams is a sprocket-wheel L. The connection is made between the shafts F, and G, by means of a sprocket-chain (not shown) which passes over the sprocket-{wheels I, and J; and the intermediate shaft G, and the auxiliary shaft H are connected together by means of a sprocket-chain (not shown) which passes over the sprocket-wheels K, and I).

Carried on the intermediate shaft G, are

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Serial No. 232,395.

driving shaft F, is set in motion, (.which may be driven by the main engine of the boat or by a separate motor power.) The main shaft F, will impart motion to the intermediate shaft G, by means of a sprocket-chain which connects said shafts I, and G, and at the same time the auxiliary shaft H, will be rotated by means of a sprocket-chain which connects said shafts G, and H.

As will be seen the saws on the auxiliary shaft H, .will cut through the ice and immediately following them, the rotary paddlewheels will crush the ice into small pieces allowing the boat to proceed forward.

By the use of our invention, great progress may be madein clearing a river of ice, .which hastens navigation in the spring time or permits it to go on all through the winter months.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An ice breaking device, consisting of a suitable frame attached to a boat, said frame being provided with bearings C, D, and E; a main driving-shaft journaled in the bearings C, an intermediate shaft j-ournaled in the bearings D, and an auxiliary shaft journaled in the bearings E sprocket-wheels carried on said shafts, which are adapted to be rotated by means of sprocket-chains, heavy paddle-Wheels carried; on the shaft G, and a series of circular saws carried on the auxiliary shaft H; said saws being "adapted to cut the ice and the paddle-wheels for breaking the same up, all substantially as and for the purposes shown and described. In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own invention, 'we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses. THOMAS L. PRATI. RAY BIAGINI. Witnesses:

. LOGAN E. Wmcn'rr,

GUY Morrrrr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! ratcntl,

Washington, D. 0." 

